
This EuroHPC industrial-grade supercomputer will provide supercomputing capabilities, specifically tailored to meet the security, confidentiality and data integrity needs of European industrial users. Managed and operated by the Innovate consortium, this versatile HPC system will support a wide range of industrial applications. As the first EuroHPC system of its kind, this new system will play a key role in enhancing the innovation potential of European enterprises, strengthening their know-how and fostering the developing advanced computing skills.
CINECA, which already hosts and operates the world-class EuroHPC supercomputer Leonardo in the premises of the Tecnopolo di Bologna, will lead the Innovate consortium, comprising seven Italian industrial partners:
- Almawave (software company – Data and Artificial Intelligence),
- Autostrade Per L’italia (Transport and Mobility),
- Bi-REX (Italian Competence Centre – Big Data),
- Fondazione ICSC (National Research Center on High-Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing),
- IFAB (International Foundation Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development),
- SNAM S.p.A (Energy),
- UnipolSai Assicurazioni S.p.A (Finance and Insurance).
This industrial supercomputer will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and by contributions from the Innovate consortium. The JU will co-fund up to 35% of the acquisition cost of the supercomputer. The next step is to finalise and sign the hosting agreement, a contractual document that defines the roles, rights and obligations of each party, between EuroHPC JU and the consortium.
Additional Link
- Italian press release by CINECA
Background
The Innovate consortium was selected following a call for expressions of interest launched in February 2024.
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity, created in 2018 and reviewed in 2021 by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 to enable the European Union and participating countries to coordinate efforts and pool resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.
In order to equip Europe with a world-leading supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured nine supercomputers, located across Europe. Leonardo, hosted by CINECA ranks 9th place in the latest Top500 ranking with a performance of 241,2 petaflops. As Leonardo prepares for a major upgrade with a new AI-optimised partition, it will soon support advanced AI applications, including large language model development and multi-modal generative AI, expanding its impact across diverse research fields.
No matter where in Europe they are located, European scientists and industrial users can benefit from these EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls to advance science and support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific and societal relevance for Europe.
Recently reviewed by means of Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1732, the EuroHPC JU received a new mandate to develop and operate AI factories. These comprehensive open AI ecosystems centred around EuroHPC supercomputing facilities will support the growth of a highly competitive and innovative AI ecosystem in Europe.
Details
- Publication date
- 4 December 2024
- Author
- European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking